Changed for good

Wicked has been delighting audiences in the UK since 2006 and thanks to the creative team behind the production, teachers are able to take their pupils out of the classroom and spend ‘One Short Day’ in the Emerald City. The production offers several workshop programmes that will provide pupils with an exciting insight into the way the show and the West End works.

The idea for these workshops comes from UK producer Michael McCabe, who consulted with the show's original creative teams on developing workshops to give pupils the most memorable behind the scenes experience. The creative team were hands-on in helping mould the content that would then be divided into five workshops that would give pupils an exclusive insight to the show's songs, choreography, drama and themes.

Moreover, the workshops have been tested by teachers and fit into the national curriculum and there are opportunities to take Wicked back to the classroom after the curtain call.

The right lessons

The workshops are tailored to the participating groups and are suitable for groups starting at Key Stage 2 and upward, and up to groups of 30 at any one time. The workshops are run by members of Wicked's creative team or cast, meaning that pupils get an authentic glance into the world of being on the West End stage.

Teachers can choose between five workshops: Musical Theatre, Drama, Singing, Dance and Anti-Bullying. All the workshops involve learning how to act in the context of musical theatre whether that's through singing, dancing or acting. The themes of the show run through each workshop and teach valuable lessons in how people relate to one another with a focus on overcoming prejudice, tackling bullying, and exploring friendships.

For groups who choose to take the Musical Theatre workshop, they will be taken through vocal and physical warm-ups before learning how to perform the song, ‘One Short Day’. Students are taught to understand how singing and dancing works in the structure of a West End show and will be taught the choreography as the actors will have been taught too.

Of course, pupils are encouraged to also express their acting chops through this medium to create a rounded performance.

For those who prefer to focus on singing, pupils will be taught ‘What is this Feeling?’ which is sung by Elphaba and Glinda when they become reluctant roommates. Groups on this workshop will focus on vocal technique and learning what the actors need to do to give a spellbinding performance. Of course, songs like this require a lot of acting and emotion, which the pupils will be taught how to do through characterisation, emoting, intonation and phrasing. There is also a chance to ask questions about the song, ‘Defying Gravity’, which is on the Music GCSE specification.

There is a programme for everyone as each workshop can be adapted based on the age and ability of the group. The practitioner will change the content and structure of the workshop based on these factors. The structure is the same for everyone but the expert leading the course will decide the best approach to ensure a worthwhile and unforgettable experience.

The programme is organised by the ArtsLink, which develops and runs these educational programmes.

Speaking about how students can benefit, Rebecca Yeoh from the ArtsLink says: ‘The main aim is for them to have a brilliant experience and learn about how West End shows work, what specific skills are needed and gaining some of those skills through the workshops.

‘They give a thorough taster of the techniques and expertise needed to be a professional in this field. It's also a chance for students to hear from an experienced theatre professional and to excite them about having a career in this industry.’

The workshops are open to absolutely anyone who is interested and it's easy to make an inquiry into getting one set up through the website. The team are happy to come to schools or any location in central London. Unfortunately, the Apollo Victoria doesn't have enough space to host these workshops on site.

The ArtsLink recognises that not all those interested might be so musically inclined and have also developed an anti-bullying workshop with their partner charity, the Anti-Bullying Alliance, which focusses less on the technical skills and more on the themes of the show.

‘The other workshops can be quite skills-specific in terms of performing arts so we wanted to make sure that was accessible to all students that weren't singers or dancers. We explore the themes of the show and relate that back to how students may be feeling and experiences in their own lives,’ says Yeoh.

Rounding up, Yeoh says that students and teachers ‘always think they're done to a brilliant high standard, with high energy. They're two hours long but they tend to go by really quickly.’